Lung cancer is a malignant state of the human lungs that can lead to cancerous developments that usually show symptoms at a much later stage, drastically reducing the patient’s chances of survival. The primary cause of lung cancer is cigarette smoking, and almost 90% of lung cancer cases can be attributed to smoking habits. Lung cancer mainly arises from abnormal cell developments in the inner lining of the lungs thus leading to a lung tumor.
What are the symptoms of lung cancer?
Early symptoms of lung cancer are rare, however, if you are a smoker, you know you are at greater risk of developing lung cancer. You should observe the below mentioned symptoms and seek professional recommendation whenever you are unsure or experiencing any of these symptoms. It is also advisable that you undergo routine medical checks as most lung cancer detections occur during a chest x-ray.
Lung Cancer Symptoms Include:
Persistent cough and hoarseness
Shortness of breath, wheezing, and chest pain
Blood-streaked sputum
Chest pain
Frequent episodes of bronchitis or pneumonia
Weight loss, weakness, and fatigue.
What are the methods of diagnosis for lung cancer?
For effective lung cancer diagnosis, the doctors may employ a wide range of diagnostic tests and procedures to correctly identify the cancer, and more importantly, what stage it is in, which is basically identifying the degree of spread of the cancer in the body:
Blood tests
Imaging tests (chest x-rays; CT, PET and bone scans)
Bronchoscopy
The staging of the cancer is as follows:
NSCLC
Stage I: Cancer that is confined to the lung
Stage II: Cancer that is confined to the chest
Stage III: Cancer that is confined to the chest but with larger and more aggressive tumours than at stage II
Stage VI: Cancer that has spread to other parts of the body
SCLC
Limited-stage: Cancer confined to the area of the chest
Extensive-stage: Cancer that has spread to other parts of the body
What are the various treatment options for lung cancer?
Lung cancer treatment is only fruitful if complete elimination of the tumor can be achieved, which again employs either of the below 3 methods, depending on the patient’s condition and stage of the cancer:
Surgery: This is helpful if the cancer has not spread beyond the lungs or specifically beyond Stage I and II NSCLC patients.
Radiation Therapy: This is suitable for both NSCLC and SCLC conditions and is a very viable method for those who prefer avoiding invasive surgeries.
Chemotherapy: This employs the use of drugs to kill the cancerous cells and is very helpful for SCLC conditions, as in those cases the cancerous cells in all probability would have already spread beyond the lungs. This procedure is sometimes used in combination with surgery and radiation.
Molecular-targeted therapies: This employs the use of drugs such as gefitinib, nivolumab and erlotinib) or antibodies like cetuximab, bevacizumab to hinder the growth and spread of the cancer.
Columbia Asia has some of the best oncologists and lung cancer specialists in the country who will deploy the latest treatment methods for the effective lung cancer treatment. Call us or visit our website to book an appointment today.
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